Sandra Thornfield (UK)
In 1950 Jill Mellows and myself were selected to have our photos taken with the famous Indian dancer Ram Gopal.
We were second year RAD scholars and were dressed exactly as we were for our scholarship classes.
At Easter, we had classes every day and were so fortunate to have Dame Margot Fonteyn, Madame Tamara Karsavina and Pamela May teaching us. Our resident teacher was Stanislav Idzikowski.
[What teachers say to you in class] It sticks for the rest of your life. It’s magic because you want that wonderful advice. [Karsavina] is trying to make you smell a rose, and you can smell it! The way she was explaining it, of how to project that to the audience that was interesting. It was wonderful.
One day Margot Fonteyn came in and I remember her specifically spending a long time teaching grand jetés, and you remember how she taught your whole life. And I’ve passed that on to my pupils.
Auditions for scholarships were held in London and successful candidates then had classes in Nottingham, Bristol, and so on, nearer their home. London scholarship classes were held at RAD headquarters, Notting Hill Gate, and everyone was re-auditioned each year. My year began with 24 scholars and ended up with eight.
In 1956 I took part in the Genée competition, which took place at the Wyndhams Theatre in the morning. Margot Fonteyn judged the competition and gave each candidate comments on both their variations – absolutely invaluable.
Such wonderful memories should never be forgotten.